5 most underrated NFL players entering the 2026 season

Every NFL season produces breakout stars, but some of the league’s best contributors still fly under the radar. Whether it is because they play in smaller markets, share the spotlight with bigger names, or handle the less glamorous parts of the game, underrated players often become the backbone of winning teams.

From reliable pass catchers to disruptive defenders, several players delivered major production in 2025 without receiving the national attention they deserved.

Here is a closer look at five NFL players who continue to outperform expectations while remaining overlooked by much of the football world.

MORE: 5 most overrated NFL players in 2026, including Caleb Williams and Travis Kelce

Purdy still gets filed as a system quarterback and a game manager. The efficiency numbers keep saying otherwise.

A toe injury held him to nine appearances in 2025, which is exactly why the label survives. The sample was small. The play inside it was not. Purdy completed 69.4 percent of his passes for 20 touchdowns and led the NFL in third-down conversion rate at 57.1 percent.

He also finished first in the league in EPA per play at 0.33, ahead of analytics favorites like Drake Maye and Jordan Love, and graded fourth among all quarterbacks at Pro Football Focus.

San Francisco paid him as a franchise piece on a five-year, $265 million deal. The production backs the check. The reputation just has not caught up.

Watson gets overlooked because injuries keep him off the field. That’s the only real criticism.

A torn ACL cost him the first seven weeks of 2025. By the time he returned against Pittsburgh in Week 8, the perception was again locked in as an injury-prone receiver.

In the 10 games he played, Watson caught 35 passes for 611 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 17.5 yards per catch. On a 17-game pace, he’d finish with over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns, the kind of production most receivers never reach.

He is Jordan Love’s best option when healthy, and he enters 2026 as Green Bay’s unquestioned WR1 with Romeo Doubs heading to free agency.

Strange does a lot of the dirty work that casual fans miss, and that is a big reason he remains underrated. The former second-round pick stepped into a larger role after Evan Engram’s departure and quietly became one of Jacksonville’s most complete offensive players. Strange finished 2025 with 46 catches for 540 yards and three touchdowns while also ranking among the AFC’s better blocking tight ends.

What separates Strange is that he is not just a pass catcher. He can stay on the field in every situation because of his run blocking, physicality, and reliability underneath. Jaguars coaches have praised his route running and ability to separate, while teammates and fans regularly point to his blocking as a tone-setter for the offense.

With more targets and a bigger role, Strange has the tools to become one of the NFL’s breakout tight ends.

Burden is underrated because many people still view him as just a gadget player instead of a complete receiver. The Chicago Bears wideout showed during his rookie season that he can create separation, win after the catch, and make explosive plays at every level of the field. Burden finished 2025 with 47 catches for 652 yards despite missing offseason work and starting the year in a limited role.

What makes Burden special is his versatility. He can line up in the slot, outside, or in motion, and his background as a running back gives him elite open-field ability. Bears coach Ben Johnson recently said he is “buying Luther Burden stock,” showing how highly the organization views his future.

It’s difficult for some players to gain traction and attention in the NFL. Some positions rarely garner the highlights to put a player’s talent on full display. Redmond does not get the same attention as bigger-name defensive tackles, even though his production matches many top starters around the league.

The Minnesota Vikings lineman broke out in 2025 with 59 tackles and six sacks while becoming one of the defense’s most reliable interior players.

What makes Redmond valuable is his versatility. He can stop the run, collapse the pocket, and create pressure from multiple spots along the defensive line. Pro Football Focus recently highlighted him as Minnesota’s “secret superstar” after he ranked among the team leaders in run stops and overall defensive grade.

Redmond’s path also adds to the story. After going undrafted and spending time in the XFL, he turned himself into a key piece of Brian Flores’ defense.

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5 most underrated NFL players entering the 2026 season

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